Elevate

From top to bottom, Five Palm Jumeirah (formerly, Viceroy Palm Jumeirah Dubai) has been beautifully designed. It’s lovely to look at, but the aesthetic of Elevate is so minimalist that we struggle to find the bar in the first place. There are no signs, and we are directed into a lift that opens onto a deserted corridor of hotel rooms.

A reason, perhaps, for it’s complete and utter lack of guests. A shame given that the bar is in fact lovely and offers spectacular views over the water towards the Marina and JBR.

The venue itself is as impeccably designed as the rest of the hotel. At once retro and futuristic, it’s all clean, geometric lines, cream and grey stone and plush, low chairs upholstered in emerald velvet.

We arrive around 6.45pm, just in time to watch the sun set, and it’s very nearly a picture-perfect spot to do so. The floor-to-ceiling windows slope away from you, with thick beams and a glass barrier to prevent you getting too close. This means that, unfortunately, you can’t get a great look at the view, and since the bar doesn’t quite face the horizon, you won’t see the sun sink behind the sea.

That said, it’s still a lovely vantage point from which to watch the coastline become bathed in orangey-pink light as jet-skiers criss-cross the waters below. Once things turn dark, it still offers one of the best views of the Marina that you can get from the Palm.

Given how smart the venue feels, service is as quick and slick as you would expect, and there are plenty of grape varieties to choose from. This isn’t the cheapest bar we’ve come across – glasses of grape start from Dhs39, and bottles from Dhs180, while pouring beverages begin at Dhs36 and classic mixed beverages at Dhs55. However, it’s nowhere near the most expensive (including within the rest of the property), and Elevate is clearly positioning itself as a high-end venue. Some sort of happy hour would certainly entice us back quicker, though.

The lack of other guests is disappointing, but we still don’t leave completely unimpressed, and for an upmarket grape bar, Elevate definitely has potential.

The bottom line Lovely views but a very quiet spot for drinks.
Elevate